SAGUACHE – The annual Arts Walk and Hollyhock Festival was on Saturday, July 27. The festival began at 10 a.m. with many art vendors and residents in attendance. The sun was high in the sky, but there was also a light breeze that drifted in, as people walked up and down the streets, visiting art booths, making purchases, smiling, and socializing at the beautiful festival.
Many people were wearing wings, and walking around town with wings, for the festival looking for the fairy houses that have become a staple of the event.
Each booth that housed an artist was decorated. There was a booth with large wind chimes that were made of beautiful stained glass with rainbows of colors, that sparkled as the sun hit them. There was a booth with nothing but beautifully handstitched quilts for sale, made of all kinds of different fabrics.
There was a booth of hand-painted wooden signs for sale, with all kinds of fun sayings. There was also a booth of woodworks for children, ranging from a park bench made of wood that was just the right height for a child of about the age of 3, to large wooden blocks that were made and personalized with children’s names on them.
A large food truck was also set up in the middle of the festival where residents and artists could be seen purchasing different types of food, including funnel cakes, and munching on them while they walked around the festival.
One of the artists at the festival, Molly McDonald, said she enjoyed being there and felt people were having a fun time.
“It’s been a really nice day, and the weather is holding up too,” she said.
Saguache residents Tom and Adele Lucero stated that they enjoy the festival every year, and they feel it is something meaningful for the town of Saguache.
“This festival is really a beautiful thing,” stated Adele. “There are many people who live here that attend, they do window shopping right outside in the streets. There are so many artists showing off their talents. Even if you don’t come to purchase art, you should come out and look at all the beautiful art that these artists have handmade, it's just exceptional.”
Shoni Kelly, an artist that was selling her paintings, stated she was happy about everyone that purchased from her at the festival.
“This is my first year attending the festival. We just moved here in 2020, and I didn’t know about this last year. I have had an excellent day and sold so much. I will definitely be here next year, it’s a very nice little festival that seems to draw people in,” Kelly said.
Kelly also mentioned that it was nice that Saguache showcased the artists and did not charge them a booth fee to sell the day of the festival.
Initially, the Hollyhock Festival and Arts Walk were separate events. The town’s flower is the hollyhock. The Saguache Chamber of Commerce organizes the combined events each year.
For more information on the Saguache Chamber of Commerce, visit online www.saguachechamber.org.
